Police: Sex offender kidnaps, rapes woman from Staples parking lot

Warrants have been issued for Adwin Frank Sylvester, a Fort Smith man accused of kidnapping, rape, aggravated robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to a police report, Sylvester was accused of kidnapping a 54-year-old Van Buren woman from the Staples parking lot in Fort Smith, Tuesday morning. The victim told police Sylvester forced her into a car and sexually assaulted her, while traveling to Mena. The woman said while refueling at a gas station in Ashdown, she ran from the vehicle and told other patrons to call 911.

Later Tuesday afternoon, police said Sylvester was spotted in Ashdown, Arkansas, and following a pursuit, Sylvester was taken into custody. Police said during the chase, Sylvester threw a semi-automatic handgun from the vehicle.

Sylvester is currently being held at the Sevier County Detention Center in Dequeen, Arkansas, police said.

According to the report, further investigation revealed Fort Smith Police received a 9-1-1 call from a manager of Staples Tuesday morning, reporting that a woman was being forced into a car with a man who might have a gun, and informing police which direction the car was headed. The information was sent out to officers as a BOLO (Be On the Look Out), but an officer was not dispatched to the scene, according to the release.

The Fort Smith Police Chief has ordered an internal investigation regarding the series of events surrounding the 911 call.